In a significant turn of events, political circles in Delhi are buzzing with the anticipation of a formal announcement regarding a potential alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal Secular (JDS). The announcement is expected to be made this week on September 22, coinciding with the commencement of the special session of Parliament.
JDS Supremo H.D. Deve Gowda has already arrived in Delhi to participate in the special Parliament sessions, and former Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy is slated to join him in the capital by Wednesday. Both leaders are scheduled to hold a crucial final meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah, adding weight to the brewing speculation of a political alliance.
The Congress party has also weighed in on the potential alliance. Last week, Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah downplayed the talks, asserting that the Congress holds the upper hand due to strong public support. He stated, “Whether there will be an alliance or whether they will fight separately, I am not bothered.”
The genesis of the earliest possible announcement of this alliance can be traced to a recent significant event where over 15 prominent leaders and former corporators from both the BJP and JDS joined the Congress in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. This move underscores the critical nature of the BJP-JDS alliance, which, if forged, could potentially alter the political landscape in Karnataka.
In the 2019 General elections, Congress and JD(S) had joined forces but faced a formidable defeat as the BJP demonstrated a dominant performance by clinching 25 out of 28 seats in Karnataka. For the upcoming 2024 polls, an alliance is seen as imperative for the BJP and JDS, as contesting independently might prove challenging in surpassing the stronghold of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar led Congress.
Both the JDS and BJP experienced disappointing performances in the 2023 assembly polls. The looming question remains whether these two parties, with their varied support bases, can work in unison to rejuvenate their prospects ahead of the 2024 elections. Analysts are closely watching to see if all sections within the JDS and BJP can cohesively unite for this electoral venture.
Following their lackluster performance in the recent Karnataka assembly elections, where JDS was reduced to just 19 seats and BJP settled at 66, the JDS is now seemingly inclined towards an alliance with the BJP for the upcoming 2024 national elections. This move follows the footsteps of a strategic approach, as the BJP may potentially leave four seats for the JDS out of Karnataka's 28 Lok Sabha seats, ensuring a collective and stronger representation in the Parliament.
As the nation awaits the formal announcement, the dynamics of this possible BJP-JDS alliance are set to unfold, potentially reshaping the political equations in Karnataka ahead of the crucial 2024 polls.
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